PRESS ROOM

They may have played their last movie, sang their swan song or printed their final document, but there is still a future for the once-vital devices that now sit unused. Thank your old electronics for their service by giving them new life with a little help from the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) for America Recycles Day.

The DZS will collect electronics November 15 and 16 from noon to 6 p.m. to limit the electronic waste that will end up in landfills. Items to be recycled can be dropped off at the Water Tower parking lot on the north side of the Detroit Zoo parking structure. The DZS will accept devices large and small including printers, non-tube televisions, computers, wire, DVD and VHS players, batteries, radios and phones.

Each driver who brings electronic waste will receive a voucher for one free admission to the Detroit Zoo, valid during regular hours any Monday through Thursday in 2021. Up to two vouchers can be provided to a participant who coordinates a drop-off with multiple households and brings a full vehicle of items that need to be recycled.

“Technology offers opportunities for a higher quality of life, but many practices to extract materials, manufacture the products and dispose of them at the end of life are devastating habitats,” said Andy McDowell, DZS manager of sustainability. “By recycling electronic waste, community members can make a meaningful impact toward reducing these destructive effects.”

Recycling electronic waste allows for the reuse of coltan, a mineral that is found in personal devices such as laptops, tablets and cell phones. Coltan is mined from areas where endangered gorillas live. When electronic waste is recycled, it helps reduce the demand for coltan and protects gorilla habitats in Africa.

Personal information on your electronic devices should be deleted before coming to recycle. All hard drives will be destroyed to U.S. Department of Defense standards. A certificate of destruction can be emailed upon request.

Participants are encouraged to answer this brief survey to allow the DZS to better prepare for this event: detroitzoo.org/2021-community-ewaste-collection-survey/.